Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting methane gas from methane hydrate. The method includes heating the methane hydrate with a laser apparatus. The laser apparatus includes a diode laser or a solid state laser that is pumped with a diode laser. The laser is guided to a working end of a tool with a fiber optic bundle. The tool is guided to heat the methane hydrate with the laser, which emanates from a beam expander at the working end of the tool. The tool can be modified for removing obstructions of methane hydrate in pipelines. Also, the tool can be modified for extracting methane from mined methane hydrate, which is in a container. The characteristics of diode lasers or diode-pumped solid state lasers such as efficiency, size, nature of operation, environmental impact and durability, make methane gas extraction from methane hydrate economically feasible.

Abstract: An arrangement (14) is used in a vehicle (10), and contains an occupant characteristic sensor (36), a filter (62) and a controller (24). The sensor (36) senses an occupant characteristic and outputs a signal indicative thereof. The filter (62) and the controller (24) operate to monitor the signal for a frequency component indicative of a vehicle crash event. In one example, the arrangement (14) is part of an occupant protection system (12) that includes an actuatable protection device (16). The controller (24) controlling actuation of the protection device (16) in response to the filtered frequency component.

Abstract: An arrangement (14) is used in a vehicle (10), and contains an occupant characteristic sensor (36), a filter (62) and a controller (24). The sensor (36) senses an occupant characteristic and outputs a signal indicative thereof. The filter (62) and the controller (24) operate to monitor the signal for a frequency component indicative of a vehicle crash event. In one example, the arrangement (14) is part of an occupant protection system (12) that includes an actuatable protection device (16). The controller (24) controlling actuation of the protection device (16) in response to the filtered frequency component.